The Loma Linda University Cancer Center Biospecimen Laboratory provides specimens for researchers as they search for the causes of cancer, and look for new means of prevention and treatment. Many different kinds of studies use specimens. The results from the study of your specimens will be used for research purposes only and will not be given to you or your doctor.

The specimens include tissues, blood products (blood cell, plasma and serum) and bone marrow cells. The specimens and certain medical information about you (for example: age, gender, race, diagnosis, stage of disease and treatment) may be given to these researchers. Any patient identification information is not given to researchers. In addition to collecting your remaining specimens, the biospecimen laboratory will collect extra blood (2 Tablespoons) for research purposes through tubes already in place for your surgery or procedure.

Trained personnel at Loma Linda University Medical Center will collect your blood. If you agree, the Cancer Center may re-contact and ask you for extra blood collections during or after your treatments. The research may also ask about collecting a portion of any additional specimens that have been taken during that time. Blood collection will take place when it is collected for your regular medical care. The researchers will not collect extra blood if they think it will cause any additional risk, discomfort or pain.

RisksBy providing specimens to the Biospecimen Laboratory patients may experience minimal risks. Any tissue or blood taken from you will come through cuts or tubes needed for your surgery or procedure and should not cause you any risk, discomfort or pain beyond what is normally expected from your surgery. The greatest risk to you is the release of information from your health records. The Biospecimen Laboratory will protect your medical information in a password secure database so that your identification is kept private.

BenefitsYou will not benefit directly from allowing your specimen to be used for research. Donors of specimens do not retain any property rights to the materials. However, we hope that the information obtained from your donated specimen(s) will result in new products, tests or discoveries and will help in the treatment of future patients. You are free to change your mind at any time without prejudice to your care or loss of benefits. Please contact your doctor if you do not want your specimen to be used in any future research. Any specimen that has already been used in research cannot be returned, however, all unused donated specimens can be disposed.

CostsThere are no costs to you for donating your specimens. You will not be paid for donating your specimens. Loma Linda University Cancer Center may receive payment from researchers requesting specimens to cover the costs of collecting and storing the specimens. If any new products, tests or discoveries, resulting from research using your specimen, turn out to be valuable, that discovery will belong to the researcher and you will not share in any money. If you wish to donate your specimen(s) at the time of your procedure or surgery for cancer, you will need to sign an Informed Consent for Biospecimen Banking. Please talk to your physician if you wish to donate your specimen to the Loma Linda University Cancer Center Biospecimen Laboratory.

ResearchersResearchers interested in gaining access to the Biospecimen Laboratory’s samples should click here to email Dr. Saied Mirshahidi, requesting access. To view the number and types of samples we have available for research click here.Please click here to use the Biospecimen Laboratory Tissue Request Form to request specimens for research studies.